Matthew “Matt” Morris, 21, of South Boston, recently completed an 80-day expedition traveling in Patagonia with the National Outdoor Leadership School based in Lander, Wyo.
The first section of the semester in Patagonia, Morris and his coursemates completed a 173-mile sea kayaking expedition. The expedition was self- sufficient for 30 days—traveling, camping and living together. The course was comprised of five instructors and 16 students and encountered minks, albatross, blue whales, otter, sea lions and other animals.
The next section of the semester, Morris spent 30 days in the mountains of Patagonia. He and his coursemates traveled 68 miles mostly off trail. They also ascended the peaks Punta and Punta Caicaivilu.
The group also participated in ice climbing, mountaineering, cultural interactions with local people and four days of independent travel.
The South Boston resident and his coursemates were exposed to several leadership opportunities including being the leaders of the day throughout the expedition.
The group had a chance to fish in a very remote area where they caught some big rainbow trout. By the end of the course, students were leading their own small expeditions.
Morris graduated from his National Outdoor Leadership School course prepared to lead an expedition of his own.
The course equipped Morris and fellow students with the outdoor skills to safely and responsibly travel in the backcountry, coupled with the leadership skills to do so with others.
Morris is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Mark Morris of South Boston.
Founded in 1965 by legendary mountaineer Paul Petzoldt, National Outdoor Leadership School is the leader in wilderness education and sets the industry standard for responsible, high-quality educational expeditions.
National Outdoor Leadership School provides an awe-inspiring, transformative experience that develops active, positive leaders with lifelong environmental ethics and outdoor skills to more than 10,000 students each year.
A private nonprofit school, National Outdoor Leadership School runs 10-day to school-year-length courses on four continents.
National Outdoor Leadership School students, ages 14 to over 70, explore the most remote wilderness in the Rocky Mountains, Idaho, Pacific Northwest, Southwest, Alaska, Western Canada, Mexico, Patagonia (Chile), India, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and Baffin Island have to offer.
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